Axe Throwing in Bloomfield, NJ: Bury the Hatchet Bloomfield and the Essex County Scene (2026)

Most of New Jersey's axe throwing volume gets associated with two zip codes -- Paramus in Bergen County and Cherry Hill in Camden County, the two Bury the Hatchet flagships that show up in nearly every "best of New Jersey" listicle. What gets lost in that conversation is that the highest-volume axe throwing venue in the entire chain, by review count, is neither of those. It sits on Bloomfield Avenue at the Bloomfield-Montclair border, 25 minutes from Manhattan, with a perfect 5.0-star Google rating across more than 17,000 reviews. That is the Bury the Hatchet Bloomfield venue at 672 Bloomfield Ave, and on any given weekend it runs the kind of throughput that puts most dedicated activity venues to shame.

If you live in Bloomfield, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Verona, or anywhere in the Essex County core, you commute into Newark or Manhattan from the western suburbs, you are a UMontclair, Rutgers-Newark, or Seton Hall student looking for a group night, or you are a Manhattan resident willing to take the Path-or-Bus across the river for a real activity, Bloomfield is the conversation. This guide covers how the venue runs, where it sits on the Essex County map, and how to plan around it.

Bury the Hatchet Bloomfield -- The Numbers Tell the Story

The Bloomfield Avenue location at 672 Bloomfield Ave has accumulated 17,351 Google reviews at a perfect 5.0-star rating. To put that in perspective: it is more reviews than any axe throwing venue in Pennsylvania, more than the New York City venues combined, and meaningfully more than the better-known Paramus flagship. The venue has earned that volume through a combination of geography (sitting at the literal Bloomfield-Montclair border on a high-traffic commercial avenue), repeat bookings from the dense surrounding family and corporate market, and a decade-plus of operational consistency.

Walk in on a Saturday afternoon and what makes the numbers work becomes visible. The venue runs multiple coached sessions in parallel, lanes turn over efficiently, the coaching is hands-on rather than checked-out, and the bracket finals get run with real ceremony rather than skipped at closing time. None of that is unique to Bloomfield -- it is the Bury the Hatchet operational standard. What is unique is the volume that operates at, day after day, week after week.

Session formats: 1-hour and 2-hour options. The 2-hour BTH signature experience runs the full structure -- safety briefing, technique coaching, individual practice rounds, bracket play with cross-lane finals. The 1-hour session is the shorter walk-in option for groups sampling axes without the full commitment.

Pricing: Standard Bury the Hatchet rates apply. The 2-hour signature session runs around $40 per person, the 1-hour session around $32. Walk-in weekday slots are typically discounted, and Wednesday-night specials run across the chain. Check the venue page directly for the current calendar.

Capacity: Up to 12 per lane with adjacent lanes used for larger parties. The Bloomfield footprint is sized for the high-volume Essex County market -- 40-person corporate bookings and large bachelorette parties are routine.

Minimum age: 10 years old with parental supervision under 18. As with the rest of the chain, this is meaningfully more permissive than several other axe brands and matters for multi-age birthday parties.

Coaching: Roughly 15 minutes of safety, rules, and technique instruction before throwing begins. Coaches walk the lanes during throwing time actively correcting grip, stance, and release.

Why Bloomfield Works for Essex County and Beyond

The geography is the point. Bloomfield is not a destination town in the way Montclair markets itself, but the venue's address straddles the line, sitting on the commercial corridor that connects the two. That position picks up bookings from a wider radius than the location alone would suggest.

• 25-30 minutes from Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel or Holland Tunnel, or 35 minutes by NJ Transit train into Bloomfield station
• 15 minutes from Newark via the Garden State Parkway -- closer than Newark Penn Station is to most parts of Newark itself
• 10 minutes from Montclair -- a contiguous walk-and-coffee neighbor with one of the strongest dining scenes in North Jersey
• 20 minutes from Jersey City and Hoboken via the Newark turnpike connections
• 30 minutes from Paramus -- close enough that the two BTH venues split the Bergen County and Essex County markets cleanly
• Walking distance for parts of UMontclair -- with shuttle and rideshare options for the rest

Manhattan groups who want axes without the Mid-Town or Brooklyn venue feel often pick Bloomfield specifically because it lets them combine the activity with a Montclair dinner. The same logic applies to UMontclair students using the venue as the default group-birthday destination, to corporate offsites along the I-280 corridor (Roseland, West Orange, Verona), and to Newark medical and pharma teams that prefer a non-Newark offsite location.

Pricing and Format at a Glance

Bloomfield vs Paramus vs Edison vs Cherry Hill

For New Jersey planners deciding between BTH flagships and the state's other large axe venues, the regional map is the deciding factor:

• Bloomfield (Bury the Hatchet, Essex County): The Manhattan-and-Montclair-adjacent flagship. Best for groups coming from NYC, UMontclair, Newark, and Essex County suburbs.
• Paramus (Bury the Hatchet, Bergen County): The dedicated-axes North Jersey flagship. Best for Bergen County groups, GWB-adjacent NYC groups, and serious throwers.
• Edison (Supercharged, Middlesex County): The multi-activity Central Jersey complex. Best for mixed-interest groups, Rutgers students, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.
• Cherry Hill (Bury the Hatchet, Camden County): The South Jersey BTH flagship. Best for Philadelphia, Voorhees, and Marlton groups.

The four venues are far enough apart that they rarely compete head-to-head. A North Jersey group picks between Bloomfield and Paramus based on which side of the Watchung Mountains they live on. A NYC group picks between Bloomfield and Paramus based on which tunnel is more convenient. A Manhattan group with a Montclair dinner plan picks Bloomfield; a Manhattan group without that plan picks Paramus.

See our Paramus, Edison, and Cherry Hill guides for the other corners.

A Sample Bloomfield Evening

For a Manhattan group of six on a Saturday:

1. 5:30 PM -- Cross the Lincoln Tunnel or take NJ Transit to Bloomfield. Walking distance from Bloomfield station to the venue, or short rideshare.
2. 6 PM -- Pre-throwing dinner in downtown Montclair. Egan and Sons, the Greek Taverna, Faubourg, or one of the dozen other Montclair dinner spots are 10 minutes west.
3. 7:30 PM -- Bury the Hatchet Bloomfield 1-hour session. Waivers signed in advance.
4. 8:45 PM -- Wind-down drinks in Montclair or Bloomfield Center.
5. 10 PM -- Train back to Manhattan or Uber across the river.

Per-person cost: roughly $90-$120 for the whole night including round-trip transit, dinner, axes, and drinks. Lower than a comparable city dinner-and-show in Manhattan.

The UMontclair and Student Market

Montclair State University sits five miles north of the venue and is a major source of group bookings -- birthdays, sorority and fraternity socials, post-finals celebrations, sports team outings. Weekday afternoons and evenings tend to skew student-heavy. The venue handles the volume well and the coaching adapts to younger groups (corrections without lecturing, more bracket-finals emphasis on the social moment).

For UMontclair students specifically: weekday slots usually run cheaper than Friday/Saturday prime time, and groups of 6+ should book at least a few days in advance to secure adjacent lanes. The 10 PM closing time on weekdays means it works as a 7 PM start for groups with morning classes.

For general student-and-group event planning, see our large groups guide.

Bachelorette and Bachelor Parties

Bloomfield is one of the more-booked bachelorette venues in North Jersey. The combination of the venue's volume capacity, the proximity to Montclair's restaurant and bar scene for the rest of the night, and the BYOB-friendly policy at most BTH locations makes it a natural anchor for a multi-stop bachelorette evening.

The typical structure: a 12-person bachelorette books a 2-hour 7 PM session, arrives at 6:45 with sashes and a six-pack, throws axes for the structured tournament until 9, then walks ten minutes into Montclair for cocktails and karaoke. Total venue spend: about $480. Total night spend, including a Montclair sit-down dinner before: about $150-$200 per person.

For general bachelorette and bachelor party planning, see our bachelor and bachelorette guide.

Birthday and Family Parties

The 10-year-old minimum and hands-on coaching make Bloomfield a strong birthday party venue for the multi-age party. Twelve-year-olds and their parents share lanes without an awkward fit. The venue runs structured birthday packages with private lane reservations and BYO-snack policies typical of the chain.

For Essex County families, the venue's position on Bloomfield Avenue is also a logistics win -- close to home for Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, and Montclair locals, and easily on the way home from Newark or Manhattan for the parents who commute. Book private events at least 3-4 weeks out for weekend prime time.

For general birthday planning principles, see our birthday party guide.

Corporate Offsites Along the I-280 and Route 3 Corridors

Bloomfield's corporate market is driven by its position on the I-280 and Garden State Parkway corridors. Companies in Roseland, West Orange, Florham Park, Newark, and even Jersey City regularly book Bloomfield for team events because it splits the geographic difference between the western and eastern Essex County offices. Newark medical and pharma teams use it as a non-Newark offsite. Jersey City finance teams use it as a non-Manhattan offsite.

The venue handles corporate event coordination through their private events team and runs structured 25-50 person bookings frequently. The bracket format is well-suited to cross-department team building -- mix in early rounds, run finals after the cross-pollination has happened.

For general corporate axe event planning, see our corporate team building guide.

Practical Logistics

Parking: On-street parking on Bloomfield Avenue and nearby side streets, plus several municipal lots within a short walk. For Saturday evening prime time, expect to circle for a few minutes or use one of the paid lots a block north -- still meaningfully easier than parking in Manhattan or Hoboken.

Public transit: NJ Transit Bloomfield station is roughly 5 minutes' walk from the venue. The Montclair-Boonton line runs frequent service from Penn Station Newark and Hoboken, with NYC connections via Newark Penn or Hoboken Terminal.

Closest highway: The Garden State Parkway exit 148 is two minutes east. I-280 is five minutes south. Route 3 connects west into Newark and east into the Lincoln Tunnel.

Closest airport: EWR is 15 minutes south via the Parkway. LGA is 45-60 minutes via the GWB or RFK Bridge. JFK is 60-75 minutes.

Bar on-site: As with most BTH venues, the location is typically BYOB-friendly rather than running a full bar. Confirm the current policy when booking -- a six-pack and the venue's glassware is the standard setup. Montclair's full bar scene is 10 minutes west for post-throwing drinks.

Reservations: Strongly recommended for any Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evening. Walk-ins possible on weekday afternoons. Groups of 8+ should book at least one week in advance, larger corporate groups 4-6 weeks ahead.

Dress code: Closed-toe shoes required. See our what to wear guide for the full venue dress logic.

Where to Eat Before or After

The dining advantage of Bloomfield Avenue is that it sits between two distinct restaurant scenes -- the Montclair scene (a dense, well-regarded Essex County dining destination) and the Bloomfield Center scene (more casual, less marketed, often cheaper).

• Downtown Montclair (10 minutes west): Faubourg (French bistro), Egan and Sons (Irish-American), Sushi Lounge, the Greek Taverna, Ariane Kitchen and Bar. Strong dinner anchors for groups of 6-12.
• Bloomfield Center (5 minutes east): Smaller independent spots, family-style Italian-American, casual brunch. Good for low-key dinners before throwing.
• Watchung Plaza area (10 minutes northwest): The neighborhood feel without crossing into downtown Montclair. Pals Cabin (closed but the area has replacements), several family-owned options.
• South Mountain Reservation pre-or-post weekend hikes (15 minutes west): Pair morning hiking with afternoon axes for the Essex County family weekend.

Beyond Axe Throwing

A Bloomfield evening or weekend pairs naturally with:

• Downtown Montclair -- the dining and shopping anchor, walkable and lively at night
• Montclair Art Museum -- weekend exhibitions, 10 minutes from the venue
• The Wellmont Theater -- Montclair's mid-size concert venue, easy to pair with a pre-show throwing session
• Eagle Rock Reservation -- the West Orange overlook with NYC skyline views, 15 minutes west
• South Mountain Reservation -- hiking, picnic spots, the Turtle Back Zoo area
• Newark Museum and Newark Symphony Hall -- 15 minutes south for a culture-paired evening

Nearby Cities

If Bloomfield is fully booked or you are coming from a different corner of the metro:

• Paramus -- the Bergen County BTH flagship for North Jersey
• Edison -- the Central Jersey multi-activity complex
• Cherry Hill -- the South Jersey BTH flagship
• New York City -- the Manhattan and Brooklyn scene
• Brooklyn -- borough-specific guide
• New Jersey -- the statewide picture

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bury the Hatchet Bloomfield really the highest-volume BTH venue?

By Google review count -- yes, at the time of writing, with 17,351 reviews averaging a perfect 5.0 stars. That is the highest review total of any Bury the Hatchet location in the chain.

Can I bring my own beer or wine?

Bury the Hatchet locations are typically BYOB-friendly rather than operating their own bar. Confirm current policy when booking. Glassware and ice are usually provided.

Is there parking?

On-street parking on Bloomfield Avenue and surrounding streets, plus municipal lots a short walk away. Easier than Manhattan or Hoboken parking, but not as effortless as Paramus or Cherry Hill, where the venues have their own lots.

How does Bloomfield compare to Paramus?

Both are flagship BTH venues with hands-on coaching and structured tournament formats. Paramus has its own large parking lot and a slightly more dedicated-axes feel. Bloomfield has the Montclair dining pairing and easier access from NYC's Lincoln Tunnel side. Volume-wise, Bloomfield is higher; throwing experience-wise, they are equivalent.

What is the minimum age?

10 years old, with parental supervision under 18. More permissive than several axe brands.

Can I take the train from Manhattan?

Yes. NJ Transit Montclair-Boonton line runs from Penn Station Newark and Hoboken Terminal to Bloomfield station, which is roughly 5 minutes' walk from the venue. From Penn Station NYC, you transfer at Hoboken or Newark Penn. Total trip is about 40-50 minutes.

Is the venue good for first-timers?

Excellent for first-timers. The coaching depth at this location is one of the chain's strengths and the structured session format eases new throwers in. See our beginner's guide for what to expect.

Can I do a 50-person corporate offsite here?

Yes. The venue handles bookings of that scale through their private events team. Book 4-6 weeks ahead for weekend prime time, 2-3 weeks ahead for weekday corporate slots.

The Essex County Pick

Most "best axe throwing in New Jersey" listicles default to Paramus -- the venue that gets cited because Bergen County is the wealthier zip code and Paramus is the dedicated-axes flagship. But the highest-volume axe venue in the chain, the one that has accumulated the largest review count and the most repeat bookings, sits on a commercial avenue in Bloomfield, ten minutes from a thousand-restaurant downtown and twenty-five minutes from Manhattan. That positioning is the actual product.

For an Essex County local, a Manhattan group with a Montclair dinner plan, a UMontclair group of friends, a Newark corporate offsite that needs to clear the city, a bachelorette weekend looking for a real activity anchor, or any North Jersey group living west of the Watchung -- Bloomfield is the obvious destination. Park on the avenue, sign your waiver, throw real steel into pine, and walk into Montclair for dinner after.

Browse all Bloomfield area venues to see what is on the directory, our beginner's guide covers the first-time experience, and our New Jersey state guide extends past Essex County into the rest of the state. For comparison with the broader Bury the Hatchet network, see our Paramus, Cherry Hill, and King of Prussia guides.